Woman’s fuel bills cleared by father

THE father of a woman accused of stealing fuel from petrol stations has paid his daughter’s debts, Norris Park IGA owner Gary Johnson says.

Mr Johnson launched a social media campaign to try to get Deanna Matijasevic, 21, to pay the $104.86 worth of petrol she owed.

A story about it was screened on A Current Affair on Monday.

The program accused Ms Matijasevic of stealing petrol from seven other district petrol station.

Mr Johnson said the woman’s father paid him yesterday after a report appeared in The Border Mail.

“We had a phone call from her dad and her family — they couldn’t bear it any more,” he said.

“They can’t believe it was going to go this far.

“They are devastated about the whole thing.

“It still doesn’t get around the problem, but at least the service stations are going to be paid, which is good.”

Mr Johnson said he gave the woman opportunities to pay for petrol taken on February 20.

“We’ve tried to contact her numerous times and said if you’re having issues, come down and see us and pay us back when you can,” he said.

Mr Johnson said he would continue to follow-up the case with Albury police.

Albury police Inspector David Cottee said in nearly all cases of fuel theft, it was regarded as fraud, particularly when a verbal promise has been made between customer and attendant to come back to pay for the fuel.

He said officers were investigating.

Mr Johnson said yesterday he was overwhelmed with support from his customers.

“It has been very positive for us and people have said ‘Good on you’,” he said.